Thread: 6040 CNC questions

OK, have been made aware of another Ebay seller that one of our forum members bought from, check out the name. (sunshinesmileservice)

They state in their listing that it is ready for a rotational axis.

Have reduced the previous estimates for 4th axis from $400 to $310 as that is the delivered price from Carving-CNC.

Another updated spreadsheet attached.

Most in your list have an 800w spindle.

I would have thought this to be a good size match for that machine.

Rod has used a few of these. What do you think Rod?

Greg

Hi Greg,
As you say I have found the 800 watt a good match for this size machine.
The 1.5kw is same diameter, same ER11 collet but longer and heavier than the 800 watt.
I have found the 1.5kw spindle is cheaper than an 800 watt probably because they sell more 1.5 kw units.
Go air cooled if you have a choice as they are by far lighter and simpler to set up with no pump and plumbing. I cut ally all the time and have never had a problem with heat or swarf ingress into the motor.

I asked about the 1.5Kw vs 800w spindle in my thread. The implication was that it'd basically cut faster/deeper, but I didn't really understand why that should be.

Since then, I've considered my experience using chainsaws. I stay the same, and use approximately the same effort (analogous to using the same gantry and steppers) but using a reasonably powerful ~3kW Stihl, the cut is smooth with little kicking, using a ~2kW electric chainsaw I find it gets the job done, but kicks about a great deal more for the same hardwood timber.

Possibly a poor analogy, but it does make me half-think a more powerful spindle, with the same steppers, may be more effective, particularly if you want to mill aluminium or worse.

If you have a look at this web site on youtube this guy has one and it looks ok.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltnfI5XqtSo]DIY CNC 6040 machine review - YouTube[/ame]
David

Hi Fred,

I was just looking over the posts and saw you mentioned a guy had PayPal. Just wanted to mention you don't get any seller protection on non eBay transaction, but of course it provides credit card facility and non disclosure of the card number

I have to say I had bad luck with Chinese sellers years ago, but in the last couple of years they have been a lot better. I just bought some ball screws and linear rails from a new supplier and I had great service and a good price. The product is very good and the rails were actually better than the ABBA units I bought from linear bearings (local supplier).

I think they have realized that the smaller orders are just as important as the big orders and that without sales support they will not sell in a market thatnis Internet savvy. People research and read posts with seller feedback.

Which ever way you go with the buy, best of luck. You will thoroughly enjoy the world that is CNC and the more you use one, the more you will get from it. My association with members of the Victorian cnc fraternity (and also those in the west) has led me to meet great people and use some great machine, just as I did today when I got to use a 3.5 meter multicam unit. Have to say makes cutting out fret work so easy when you can slide in a full sheet and cut the full 2.4 meter length.

Keep us posted on however you decide to go.

/M

Mike, Paypal buyer protection is not limited to Ebay purchases

https://cms.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?c...nline_shopping

See top of page.

I must admit that until recently I thought the same as you that it was only on Ebay purchases.

Originally Posted by dj_pnevans

If you have a look at this web site on youtube this guy has one and it looks ok.

David

Thanks David, I had actually found both his videos on Youtube and downloaded them.

There seems to be something odd about his flv format (only format these can be downloaded in) they won't play in any of the 3 flv players I have tried.

Normally I download from Youtube in mp4, I use DownloadHelper (addon to Firefox)

Quite good to see these machines in operation, just a pain with all the stop/start of a direct Youtube playback.

Came across another interesting thread on the CNC6040 (our very own Geoff-snowyskiesau is in there as well)

http://www.eevblog.com/forum/product...esting-review/

Good videos those - what really surprised me is the custom alu mounts he'd made with the unit in the other video - they looked to be milled from 10-12mm stock, which is a lot more substantial than I assumed you could do with this kind of unit.

Originally Posted by RustyArc

Good videos those - what really surprised me is the custom alu mounts he'd made with the unit in the other video - they looked to be milled from 10-12mm stock, which is a lot more substantial than I assumed you could do with this kind of unit.

Yes, they are good videos, really shows what the machine looks like and what it is capable of.

Probably doesn't mean that much to those already conversant with CNC, but I got a lot out of these.

Looks like there is quite a journey ahead of me, SWMBO is already shaking her head when I mention CNC, I can see her eyes glaze over

In looking through the various 6040 videos, It's interesting to note the little differences between mine and those of other people.
On one fairly recent video, the base of the unit is an aluminium extrusion, mine is s piece of steel channel. Another difference is the top of the Z axis. The recent ones seem to have support for the stepper cable and water hoses that is lacking on mine.

Perhaps we need a picture gallery of members 6040s along with a purchase date and seller name.

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

Perhaps we need a picture gallery of members 6040s along with a purchase date and seller name.

That is an excellent suggestion Geoff, bit like the "Show off your lathe or Show off your mill" threads.

As I haven't got one (yet) I can't start it, so how about you kick it off?

Would be an interesting thread, not only to see the differences in the actual machines, but also in how people have set them up with stand, computer, monitor etc, but also to see what mods they have made to the machine.

I know some people have changed the electronics, some the spindle etc.

Perhaps a good title would be "Show off your Chinese CNC" which would not limit it to 6040 machines.

Might even make it a "sticky" thread so it always sits at the top of the CNC forum.

I'll get started, it's too cold in the shed so some indoor work will be welcome.

I'll just have to find the CNC, it's on the kitchen table somewhere under all the mess...

Just an update on my enquiries

I asked 3 of the suppliers on my spreadsheet basically the same set of questions:

1 brucewl1964 came back stating that they have no stock of the 6040, even though it was listed on Ebay as recently as this morning, but they can supply a 6090. He gives specs, but no mention of price, nor any listed on Ebay.
Strike one

2 sunshinesmileservice came back with a hard to understand reply and a link to what appears to be off ebay

Dear < <email address removed per policy>>,
? hello friend how are you ? if you order this one, you can add 4th axis, but you need order a controller box with 4th driving board .
of course ,we have the assembled CNC machine with 4th axis . now i can give you a link to have a better check
http://vi.ebaydesc.com.au/ws/eBayISA...m=290603117672
if you have any questions, pls contact me , of course, you can add my msn or skype to have further chat
best wishes to you and your family
?
Best regards wang




However that is for a 3040 with a lot of information but no price.

Strike two

3 Carving-CNC came back and answered all my questions in a way I could understand.

Seems I am down to one.
Or more accurately, I can delete 2 from the list of possible suppliers.